AN: To answer 'WearyCurmudgeon' from the reviews, the Swallow Cut is the technique used by the Swordsman Kojiro Sasaki. It's been put into anime before, as has he, but the version I had Tenten using is the one from 'Record of Ragnarok'.
Trickshot
Chapter 10
-Naruto-
Yawning with a stretch, Naruto trudged through the village to look for a snack to eat. Tsume had given him the day off from training and Tenten was out on a mission so there wasn't much to do at the moment besides quell the munchies.
"Naruto!" jerking, Naruto's head snapped over to see Tsume running over, "We have an emergency mission. You have your gear?" Unsealing the mission pack that he kept sealed on him at all times, Naruto nodded as Tsume turned and bolted. Giving chase, Naruto kept up with Tsume and Kuromaru.
"What happened?" Naruto got out as he ran, making sure his blade and bow were ready.
"Asuma sent a request for backup." Tsume narrowed her eyes as they ran "His team were on a basic C rank that was supposed to be a simple escort mission with no threat larger than some bandits or wolves. Instead, their group got attacked by a couple of B ranked missing nin, the Demon Brothers of Mist. They're working for a shipping Tycoon who's trying to take over Wave country."
"That shouldn't have been a C rank." Naruto frowned, getting a bad feeling as he started prepping his quiver with sealed arrows.
"No. No it shouldn't." Tsume shook her head, "But the Demon Brothers aren't known to have worked with anyone else so at the moment it was deemed safe enough to continue escorting the client back to his home. The backup is case more enemy nin are hired on. I'm a high A rank Kunoichi and Asuma is on the lower end of S rank after his time guarding the Daimyo. With us, and your four Genin, we should be able to handle most opponents."
"Understood." Naruto nodded, readying himself for battle. The report said that there shouldn't be any current issue, but he had a bad feeling in his gut.
-Zabuza-
Frowning, Zabuza observed the Genin on the banks of the lake. He had Asuma Sarutobi trapped in a water prison and had assumed a single water clone would be enough to kill the three Genin.
Instead, two of them moved faster than a Genin should and took it down. Water clones were useful and cheap to make when it comes to Chakra consumption, but they were also sadly never more than a tenth the power of their creator, plus a solid enough hit would make them dissolve.
"Gotta say, I expected more from one of the Daimyo's Fire Guardians." Zabuza snorted, "You fought me in my element. But I suppose that's the issue with you Leaf Nin. You're only good when you have a team." As he spoke, he watched his group of three water clones having some fun toying with the Genin, testing what the current brats of the world 'Strongest Shinobi Village' were capable of. Hearing a faint whistle, Zabuza looked up to see an arrow flying overhead before it burst into smoke to reveal a tiny blond brat.
"What the-" Zabuza was caught off guard for only a moment but in that moment the blond used a substitution to replace themselves with Asuma who appeared in mid air before vanishing again to be replaced with another blond, both of them clones judging by his senses.
Killing the two clones with a swing of his sword, Zabuza was already moving towards the short where he saw more blonds appearing, the group he was fighting and his target being brought further back.
"Shadow Arrow Jutsu!" the clones shouted in tandem as a volley of arrows became a rain.
"Iron water wall." Zabuza scowled, using a single-handed hand sign to make a water barrier, the arrows sticking in as his clones burst.
"Good work Naruto." A feral woman he recognized as an Inuzaka by the markings and wolf grinned, "Stay back and provide cover fire. Asuma and I will handle him from here."
"Yes sensei." The blond kid, Naruto, nodded, forming more clones who surrounded the target with the other genin, each clone having a bow ready and aimed outward.
"Huh, more leaves to burn." Zabuza scoffed, cracking his neck as he worked to not show any concern at facing two high ranked Jonin. Asuma was ranked roughly equal to him in the Bingo book so Asuma with backup could pose a problem.
"Like we did at Scorched Canyon!" Tsume shouted at Asuma as the two Jonin charged, the massive wolf staying with the Genin as extra security. It didn't take long for Zabuza to recognize that the current fight wasn't one he'd win. He was still tired from being on the run for so long and now the two Jonin were able to back each other up. Sending a silent signal to Haku, Zabuza was getting ready for the senbon to the neck when he heard his partner cry out in pain.
"Damnit!" Zabuza snarled, sending out a tidal wave that bought him just enough room to leap to where Haku was, swinging his blade as he beheaded what looked like a Tiger made of Ink, rushing the mauled Haku out. He'd ensure Haku recovered, then take this group down on his terms.
-Gai-
Frowning, Gai observed his team as the three worked to take down their targets on the latest bandit elimination mission. On past missions of this type the three had decent teamwork where Neji took charge, calling out orders on where various bandits were or were going, taking full advantage of his Byakugan as he waded to the center of it all, drawing the most attackers.
Tenten would have been rapidly circling the outside, throwing her kunai and using her weapons to make sure no bandits escaped the camp.
While Lee would bounce from opponent to opponent, breaking those who faced him and herding the rest towards Neji.
It was a well-oiled machine where the teamwork worked flawlessly. Even when the team wasn't on the best terms there was at least a degree of respect there for the most part.
But now they each focused on their own actions. Tenten didn't seem as comfortable working with Lee and if both of them weren't following his orders to the letter Neji's teamwork became nonexistent.
The bandits were still getting taken out but the teamwork that Konoha prided itself on wasn't there anymore.
And Gai wasn't sure what to do about it.
-Naruto-
Grunting, Naruto helped ease the bridge builder Tazuna into a chair. To help avoid any more attacks Asuma and Tsume had given the order to speed things up. Naruto had been tasked with carrying the old man while his clones had bows ready and a clone of Tsume carried Shikamaru who still wasn't fit enough to do prolonged Water walking at the speeds they needed to travel.
"He secure?" Tsume check into the room where Naruto was laying down the old man, the civilian having passed out from the intensity of the fight and the run that followed.
"Yeah, he's good." Naruto nodded "Smells like a distillery but he's good. I've got clones setting up traps and seals around the property for now."
"Good work kid." Tsume gave him a relieved nod before running a hand back through her hair with a sigh, "Fuck this mission went south fast. You handled yourself good out there kid. I can't tell you how many rookies I know of from my own friggin clan would have tried arguing, wanting to fight Zabuza for some sort of glory."
"He's an S ranked missing non. Not some chump who sucked someone off to become Chuunin." Naruto rolled his eyes, "I'd rather not get murdered thank you."
"Good. I'm going to go meet with Asuma so we can make a plan on how to handle this clusterfuck. You and the other Genin meet up. Check what's on hand and see if you have any seals that can boost their gear. This is an all-hands-on deck scenario till I say otherwise, got it?"
"Yes sensei!"
AN: And thus, the Wave arc begins. I've been looking forward to some of the things that happen here!
